Tuesday, July 15, 2014

PORTLAND, Ore. – A nationally televised game and a “Battle for the Border”  highlight the 2014 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football schedule.

The season kicks off Sept. 4 as defending GNAC champion Azusa Pacific hosts Grand Valley State (Mich.). Kickoff at Glendora, Calif., is at 6 p.m.

Later in September, Central Washington and Simon Fraser will play in the “Battle for the Border”. The Sept. 27 game, which is presented by the Washington National Guard, is the conference opener for both teams.

The inaugural battle will be held at Bothell’s Pop Keeney Stadium, with kickoff at 6 p.m.  A  traveling trophy will be awarded to the winner.

The Washington National Guard will be prominent in the pre-game and halftime festivities, and at a fan zone that will be set up in the parking lot.

Azusa Pacific begins its first season as a playoff-eligible member of the NCAA with four pre-season USA College Football website All-Americans led by running back Terrell Watson who rushed for a GNAC-record 1,812 yards and 23 touchdowns last season.

Watson is one of 497 players named to the website’s All-American team including 26 from GNAC teams.

The “Battle for the Border” game will  feature 11 pre-season All-Americans including a league-best six from Simon Fraser.

Among the Clan pre-season picks are quarterback Ryan Stanford, who passed for 2,282 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and running back Chris Tolbert who rushed for 1,050 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Central Washington’s Jesse Zalk was selected to the pre-season team at two positions  - wide receiver and return specialist.   In his freshman season he caught 47 passes for 429 yards and also averaged 31.0 yards on 13 kickoff returns.

Both CWU and SFU will be led by first-year head coaches as Ian Shoemaker takes over at Ellensburg and Jacques Chapdelaine is the new head coach in Burnaby.

Humboldt State and Western Oregon each placed five players on the USA Football pre-season team and Dixie State had one.

Among Humboldt’s honorees is wide receiver Chase Krivashei, who led the GNAC in receptions last year with a GNAC-record 96 for 915 yards. 

Representing Western Oregon on the pre-season team is quarterback Ryan Bergman, who led the GNAC in passing with 3,225 yards and 27 touchdowns, and two-sport standout Tyrell Williams, who caught 49 passes for 849 yards.

In the spring, Williams set a GNAC record in the conference track-and-field meet in the 200 meters with a time of 21.32.

Representing Dixie State on the pre-season team is defensive lineman Saula Taufa.

USA Football Pre-Season All-Americans

Offense: First Team: Quarterback – Ryan Bergman, WOU. Running Back – Terrell Watson, APU.  Wide Receiver – Tyrell Williams, WOU.  Kicker – Jamie Cacciatore, APU; Matt Bruder, HSU; Chad Heerspink, SFU. Return Specialist – Jesse Zalk, CWU; Earl Anderson, SFU. Second Team: Quarterback – Ryan Stanford, SFU. Running Back – Jordan Todd, CWU; Chris Tolbert, SFU; Joe Harris, WOU. Wide Receiver – Chase Krivashei, HSU; Bobby Pospischil, SFU.  Third Team: Wide Receiver – Jesse Zalk, CWU.  Tight End – Jamel Kett, SFU.  Honorable Mention: Offensive Line – Cody Clay, APU.

Defense: First Team: Defensive Line – Kraig Akins, WOU.   Linebacker – J.B. Torsy, CWU.  Defensive Backs – Tyler Thornton, APU; Isaiah Davis, CWU.  Punter – Chris Campbell, HSU. Second Team: Defensive Line – Saula Taufa, DSU; Silas Sarvinski, HSU; Alex Markarian, HSU.  Defensive Backs – Cedrique Chaney, CWU. Third Team: Linebacker – Shane Kuenzi, WOU.   

Battle For the Border

BOTHELL - Central Washington will host Simon Fraser University in the first “Battle for the Border” Sept. 27.

“Since the bulk of our alumni live in western Washington, we want to bring a game to them,” explained Jason Roundy, CWU’s athletic development director, as to why the battle was scheduled. “It’s a way for us to better serve and connect with Wildcat Nation there.”

Because of the school’s proximity and the international nature of the contest, SFU was a natural fit, Roundy pointed out.

Simon Fraser University is the only NCAA member institution, from any of its divisions, that is not located within the United States. That further heightens the international nature of the “Battle for the Border,” for which the Washington National Guard was also considered to be a natural partner. 

Milt Richards, Director of Athletics and Recreation at SFU, said, “Central Washington Athletics Director Dennis Francois approached me last summer about the possibility of creating a Battle for the Boarder rivalry game, which I thought was an excellent idea. So we will play the first installment of the game this fall. We have several alumni in Seattle, as does Central, so this will be an excellent opportunity for all of our fans to see a great college football game in their back yard.”

Francois noted, “This game will showcase the men and women who defend our country and serve the state of Washington when tragedies arise.”

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Lieggi, commander of the Washington National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, pointed out.

“This is our first time doing a partnership for a game with a college and we’re very excited about it. We have a deep relationship with the [CWU] ROTC program and this partnership will help demonstrate to the entire campus how we feel about the university.

“As guardsmen, we are patriots, soldiers and neighbors. We are actively involved in the community and being partners with CWU shows how deeply we want our roots to extend in this state.”

Washington National Guard “Battle for the Border” tickets are now on sale. They are $15 for general admission and $10 for CWU students, faculty, and staff with identification, emeritus faculty and senior citizens (age 65 or older), non-CWU students and youth. Children ages 5 and under will be admitted free.  

2014 GNAC Football Schedule
*Conference Game

September: 4 – Grand Valley at Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m. 6 - Central Washington at Montana, 3:30 p.m.; Dixie State at Colorado Mesa, 7 p.m.; Humboldt State at Texas-Kingsville, 7 p.m.; Menlo at Simon Fraser, noon;  Colorado Mines at South Dakota Mines, 6 p.m.; Western Oregon vs. Portland State (at Hillsboro), TBA.  13 – Azusa Pacific at Humboldt State, 6 p.m.; Dixie State at Central Washington, 1 p.m.; Western Oregon at Simon Fraser, 1 p.m.; South Dakota Mines at Black Hills, 1 p.m.  20 – Simon Fraser at Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.; Central Washington at Western Oregon, 1 p.m.; Humboldt State at Dixie State, 6 p.m.; Wisconsin-River Falls at South Dakota Mines, 6 p.m.  27 – Azusa Pacific at Dixie State, 6 p.m.; *Simon Fraser vs. Central Washington (at Bothell), 6 p.m.; Western Oregon at Humboldt State, 6 p.m.; South Dakota Mines at William Jewell, 1 p.m.

October: 4 – *Azusa Pacific at Central Washington, 1 p.m.; *Simon Fraser at Dixie State, 6 p.m.; *South Dakota Mines at Humboldt State, 6 p.m.; Western Oregon at North Alabama, 6 p.m.  9 – *Humboldt State at Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.; 11 – *Central Washington at South Dakota Mines, 1 p.m.; *Dixie State at Western Oregon, 1 p.m.; Simon Fraser at Idaho State, 2:35 p.m.; 18 – *Dixie State at Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.; *Western Oregon at Central Washington, 1 p.m.; *South Dakota Mines at Simon Fraser, 1 p.m.  25 – *Azusa Pacific at South Dakota Mines, 1 p.m.; *Central Washington at Humboldt State, 6 p.m.; Menlo at Dixie State, 6 p.m.; *Simon Fraser at Western Oregon, 1 p.m.

November: 1 – *Western Oregon at Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.; Lincoln (Mo.) at Central Washington, 1 p.m.; *South Dakota Mines at Dixie State, 6 p.m.; *Humboldt State at Simon Fraser, 1 p.m. 8 – *Azusa Pacific at Simon Fraser, 1 p.m.; *Central Washington at Dixie State, 6 p.m.; *Humboldt State at Western Oregon, 1 p.m.; Southwest Baptist at South Dakota Mines, 1 p.m.  15 – Menlo at Azusa Pacific, 4 p.m.; Central Washington at Simon Fraser, 1 p.m.; *Dixie State at Humboldt State, 1 p.m.; *Western Oregon at South Dakota Mines, 1 p.m.